The aim of the present population-based descriptive study was to evaluate the incidence and mortality trends for melanoma to gain insights on the effectiveness of opportunistic secondary prevention strategies. Data on all invasive cutaneous melanoma cases occurring between 1996 and 2011 were retrieved from the Ticino Cancer Registry, southern Switzerland. The European age-standardized incidence rates were computed by the period of diagnosis, Breslow thickness and histological types. Trends in incidence and mortality rates were measured as the annual per cent change (APC). A total of 1230 patients had a diagnosis of invasive cutaneous melanoma. Cases were categorized as follows: superficial spreading melanoma (55.7%), nodular melanoma (10.0%), lentigo maligna melanoma (5.5%), melanoma not otherwise specified (25.2%) and other types (3.6%). The incidence rate of invasive melanoma rose from 17.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1996-2003 to 20.6 in 2004-2011, with an overall APC of +2.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.8%, +5.1%]. An increase in incidence was observed for superficial spreading melanoma (APC = +2.9%; 95% CI: -1.1%, +7.0%) and thin melanomas (i.e. ≤ 1.00 mm) (APC = +3.4%; 95% CI: +0.2%, +6.7%), whereas we detected a descriptive growing incidence of thick melanomas (APC = +2.1%; 95% CI: -1.4%, +5.8%). Mortality trend analysis revealed constant rates throughout the study period (APC = -1.0%; 95% CI: -5.5%, +3.7%). This population-based study confirms that in a country with the highest incidence of cutaneous melanomas, that is, Switzerland, the opportunistic screening strategy does not change the incidence of thick melanomas nor the overall mortality. This study suggests there is still a need for public health efforts in primary and secondary prevention.

The presence of gene copy number changes in Spitz naevi as detected by FISH is higher than expected, and Spitz naevi at the genetic level represent a heterogeneous group. The findings of similar cytogenetic alterations in Spitz naevi and melanomas suggest that there should be cautious interpretation of FISH analysis in this setting.

BACKGROUND Patients with an history of carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract are at high risk for recurrence or the development of new tumors in this region. In the majority of follow‐up protocols, these patients undergo radiologic and endoscopic evaluation as a means of surveillance for the early detection of recurrence. The brush biopsy‐capsule technique represents a noninvasive and inexpensive screening device for this patient population. In the current study, the authors retrospectively assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of esophageal brush‐capsule cytology for the detection of malignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract in this high risk patient population. METHODS Cytologic specimens from 334 patients with previously treated upper aerodigestive malignancies were available for review. The cytologic, endoscopic, and clinical follow‐up of each case were studied over a follow‐up period of 3 years. Gold standard was the clinical follow‐up for the negative cases (who were not submitted to biopsy) and biopsy for the positive cases. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value were calculated. RESULTS Using cytology 33 malignancies were detected in 25 patients during a 3‐year follow‐up period. The test was found to have a sensitivity of 88.7% and a specificity of 90.7%. In 66% of cases the malignancies were located in the oropharynx; the others were located in the esophagus. In 70% of cases the malignancies were detected at an early stage. CONCLUSIONS Esophageal brush‐capsule cytology is a simple noninvasive technique that has been proven to be useful in the early detection of metachronous and recurrent neoplasms in the follow‐up of patients with previously treated carcinomas of the ear, nose, and throat. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2000;90:10–6. © 2000 American Cancer Society.

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Ingenol mebutate (IM) has recently been approved for the topical treatment of actinic keratoses. It appears to have a dual mechanism of action: rapid necrosis after gel application and a subsequent immune-mediated response, which targets any residual dysplastic epidermal cells. We report the successful treatment of a woman, who had been relapsing into Bowen's disease (BD) on her right forefinger for 8 years. During her clinical history, she had received an allogeneic, HLA-identical stem cell transplant for myeloproliferative syndrome with a JAK2V617F mutation and lobectomy of the pulmonary right lower lobe for adenocarcinoma. We used dermoscopy to monitor the therapeutic response of BD. We discuss IM gel as a possible therapeutic option for BD.